The Pope may be a little homesick. After touching down in the U.S. today, Pope Francis left Joint Base Andrews not in a limo -- but in the Italian-made Fiat.

Once he exited the informally named “Shepherd One” plane, greeted President Obama and his family, and walked down the red carpet, Pope Francis hopped into a simple black Fiat 500 and waved to the crowd as he drove away. The Pope drove to where he'll be staying in Washington D.C. -- the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See to the United States.

The car bore a small Vatican City flag with the license plate -- “SCV 1,” the initials for Status Civitatis Vaticanae, which is Latin for Vatican City State.

Pope Francis has arrived at the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See where he is going to spend the night. We're going to pause the live blog for the evening but be sure to check back in the morning when we resume live coverage ahead of the pope's 9:15 a.m. meeting with President Obama at the White House. Peace out! Photo credit: Andrew Harnik/AP Photo

Today marks the first full day of the pope's U.S. tour and it's slated to be a busy one at that.

The festivities will kick off on South Lawn at the White House, followed by a meeting with President Obama inside.

He will be escorted to the Ellipse at 11 a.m. before being transported to the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. There he will lead a midday prayer along the a group of U.S. bishops.

One of the biggest, and most controversial, events during his trip comes when he will attend the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and canonize Franciscan missionary Junipero Serra at 4:20.

For Pope Francis' full schedule and an interactive map showing where he will be traveling around D.C., click here.

Pope Francis, the first Hispanic head of the Catholic Church, will canonize the first Hispanic, Junipero Serra, during a special mass held at the National Basilica on Wednesday.

But the ceremony will not be without controversy.

Serra, a Franciscan monk who worked to evangelize the California coast during the 18th century, has been criticized for using coercive force and corporal punishment on Native Americans.

Steven Hackel, a history professor at the University of California, Riverside, says Serra’s use of corporal punishment was even controversial at the time. It was believed that physical punishment should not be dispensed by Franciscans or missionaries but rather by the state when someone committed a crime. Native American groups have protested Serra’s canonization, saying that Serra enslaved and abused their ancestors.

“There’s a sense of loss and despair over what those missions meant” to Native Americans, said Hackel.

Pope Francis has arrived at the White House! He was greeted first by his translator, then by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Full story: abcn.ws Credit ABC News

by Meghan.Keneally9/23/2015 1:26:11 PM

Order of the anthems: The national anthem of the Holy See was played first, followed by the American national anthem, with Pope Francis and President Obama standing next to one another on the South Lawn podium.

by Meghan.Keneally9/23/2015 1:29:16 PM

President Obama starts his comments off with a joke.

"Our backyard is not typically this crowded," he said to a laugh from the audience, "but the size and spirit of today’s gathering is just a small reflection of the deep devotion of some 70 million American Catholics."

by Meghan.Keneally9/23/2015 1:35:09 PM

"And yet, I believe the excitement around your visit must be attributed not only to your role as pope, but to your unique qualities as a person," President Obama said just now. "In your humility, your embrace of simplicity, the gentleness of your words and the generosity of your spirit, we see a living example of Jesus’ teachings, a leader whose moral authority comes not just through words but also through deeds."

by Meghan.Keneally9/23/2015 1:37:10 PM

Spotted: Ethel Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy's widow, sitting next to Secretary of State John Kerry.

by Meghan.Keneally9/23/2015 1:39:13 PM

Pope Francis sits as President Obama makes his opening comments to the crowd of thousands gathered on the South Lawn. Credit: ABC News.

by Meghan.Keneally9/23/2015 1:39:54 PM

Pope Francis is starting his remarks out in English! And making a point about immigration right off the bat.

"Mr. President, I find it encouraging that you are proposing an initiative for reducing air pollution. Accepting the urgency, it seems clear to me also that climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation," the pontiff said.